Firefighters ask donors to 'Fill the Boot'

Shoppers shouldn't be alarmed if they see fire trucks outside of Leavenworth stores this holiday weekend.Members of the Leavenworth Fire Department will be collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

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By John Richmeierjrichmeier@leavenworthtimes.com

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By John Richmeierjrichmeier@leavenworthtimes.com

Posted Aug. 29, 2014 at 7:52 PM

By John Richmeierjrichmeier@leavenworthtimes.com
Posted Aug. 29, 2014 at 7:52 PM

Shoppers shouldn't be alarmed if they see fire trucks outside of Leavenworth stores this holiday weekend.

Members of the Leavenworth Fire Department will be collecting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The firefighters began collecting money for the MDA's annual Fill the Boot campaign Friday afternoon and will continue through Monday.

They will be accepting donations at Wal-Mart, 5000 10th Ave., Dillons, 720 Eisenhower Road, and Country Mart, 1920 Spruce St.

"We don't really have any set hours, but we're going to try to be out there as much as we can," said Jeff Porter, a member of the Leavenworth Fire Department who coordinates the local collection effort.

He said Leavenworth firefighters collected a little more than $4,000 last year.

This year, firefighters have a goal of raising at least $6,000.

"We have an ambitious goal," Porter said.

Porter said the amount of $6,000 was chosen because the national Fill the Boot campaign is now 60 years old.

"This year, we support the 60th anniversary of firefighter support of MDA," Porter said.

He estimated between 14 and 17 members of the Leavenworth Fire Department will be participating in the campaign this year.

Firefighters will stand near the entrances to the stores. They will be collecting donations in firefighter boots.

They also will be handing out stickers.

"The kids really like the stickers," Porter said.

Porter said the firefighters participating in the campaign will be on duty, which means they may have to respond to calls at times. But, they will return to the stores.

Last year, firefighters responded to a house fire during the Labor Day weekend. Porter said this kept firefighters away from local stores for much of one day.